A Halloween Skull Mantel

Leading up to Halloween I will be posting a Spooky decor or craft post everyday. I just love Halloween and I love to decorate for it. I think it brings out that Goth teenager in me who wore all black and had too much eyeliner on. That girl in side me just wants to get out every once in a while, you know? 😉

For the photo a day challenge back in September, the theme for the last day was Treat. I had thought to do a food post, beacuse when I think of treating myself I think of food. But I was also itching to start decorating for Halloween. Down to the basement I went and grabbed all of the black and white Halloween items I had. No baking for me!!!

IMG_3269

I laid out all of my items and started clearing off the top of the pie safe. We don’t have a fireplace in our little rental house, so I tend to use this as a mantel of sorts. Once everything was cleared away, I first layered a piece of dark gray cheese cloth on top of my pie safe.

IMG_3262

When ever I do a vignette I always work from back to front, large items to small. Once the large items in place, it is easy to see where to place the smaller items. The white Skull and black Sugar Skull framed art pieces were placed at the back, then the two pattern pieces to the sides.

IMG_3263

My DIY Poison bottles I made a few years ago were next, placing them randomly. Trying to vary the heights for interest. Trying to make sure that the similar bottles are balanced out. See the large bottle with the Skull and cross bones label on the left? It is like 3 other smaller bottles I made. By spreading them out, your eye can travel the whole space.

IMG_3264

Other glass bottles and beaker vases were added. I also used a black painted jar, and simple DIY beaded garland. 3 Black dollar store Crows and a bouquet of black flowers.

IMG_3265

I kept adding and subtracting items until I was happy. A black and white pumpkin, a black skull, a dollar store Skull mirror, and a Mardi Gras mask. Everything was placed and layered to balanced each other out.

IMG_3266

I would say that since I already had everything in storage, the hardest part was opening up the tubs to find what I wanted to use. In all this little vignette took me around 30 minutes to complete. I then spent another 10 minutes to take the photos you see here.

IMG_3267

And you know what happened? I was the featured photo for the Treat day!!! I felt really honored to be chosen, and I was featured on two other Instagram accounts. #grateful

 

I’m a little sad to inform you that this Skull Mantel vignette did not stay for too long. It was up maybe 10 days or so. Then I took it down to use some of the items on my front porch. But that is a post for another day 😉

Do you decorate for Halloween? I would love to see how you decorate for this fun holiday. Tag me on Instagram!!!